A Closer Look: Seth Meyers on Kushner and Trump’s self-congratulation
By Matt Moore
Seth Meyers used A Closer Look to respond to Jared Kushner and President Donald Trump complimenting the coronavirus response.
There is no bigger fan of President Donald Trump than the man himself. Tied for second may be everyone who works for him. So it is no surprise to hear the White House compliment its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, something that triggered “A Closer Look” from Late Night with Seth Meyers.
No matter how many times he says it’s not about him and he doesn’t need gratitude, President Trump’s press briefings on the novel coronavirus have largely been about him. His response to the pandemic, his decisions on helping states, his thoughts on treatments. It is part of the reason he’s been blamed for botched testing, too.
Despite the number of cases in the U.S., President Trump has repeatedly stated that his administration is doing “a great job.” That sentiment was recently echoed by his son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner. Kushner called the government’s response “a success story” that needed to be told.
Late night was quick to jump on Kushner for his comments. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert responded on Wednesday night and on Thursday it was Late Night with Seth Meyers‘s turn:
According to Seth Meyers, any progress that has been made is with no thanks to President Trump. The social distancing efforts by Americans and the work of healthcare professionals deserve credit, not the White House says Meyers. Contacting random people on Twitter for help constructing ventilators doesn’t exactly deserve praise in the Late Night host’s mind.
Meyers reiterates that President Trump downplayed the severity of COVID-19 and the White House was slow to respond. Now the administration is attempting to rewrite history and spin the story any way it can. But Meyers won’t let that happen, no matter what story gets told.
That brings the attention of “A Closer Look” to Jared Kushner. It is impossible for Kushner to appear on camera and not immediately find himself in a late night monologue immediately after. Maybe that’s why his Fox and Friends appearance included a shot at late night hosts like Meyers.
In typical “A Closer Look” fashion, Meyers response perfectly balances jokes and facts. After riffing on how he desperately wants to leave his house, Meyers cites reports that the U.S. death toll is likely higher than reported. It certainly does not point to a “success story.”
A recap of President Donald Trump’s various suggestions on how to treat COVID-19 is all the proof Seth Meyers needs for his argument that the White House shouldn’t be patting itself on the back. If President Trump and Jared Kushner want to see a success story, Meyers suggests they look at South Korea for a reality check.
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What did you think of this edition of “A Closer Look?” Share your thoughts in the comments below. For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.